BOWLS

STREZLECKI NORTH

BY MICHAEL HOLROYD

 

STREZLECKI Bowls Region opened its season last Saturday with the Strzelecki North playing area conducting the McGilton and Barry Shields for the first time since COVID-19 intervened a few years ago.

The McGilton Shield was held at Trafalgar with seven Division 1 clubs along with Moe making up the eight clubs competing with three teams of four players.

Competition was fierce with Traralgon and Trafalgar each winning six of the nine matches.

Going into the last round of matches after lunch Trafalgar was leading the competition having won five matches to Traralgon’s four with a handy lead on shots if a countback was needed.

Moe and Traralgon each won one of their first two matches in this round, leaving the final match between Vin McIlwain and his Traralgon rink of Tom Irvine, Ian Hilsley and Matt Eccles playing Nathan Cook and his Trafalgar rink of Peter Rosenboom, Mick Fleming and Tim Fraser.

After 10 ends, Cook had his nose in front leading by two shots, McIlwain drew two on the 11th end to level the match and gained a further two shots on the last end.

That meant Traralgon gained a further two shots, giving them an overall two-shot victory when all match results were in.

Traralgon were worthy winners over an unlucky Trafalgar, with Drouin finishing third and Newborough fourth on the ladder for the day.

The Barry Shield was played at Warragul between the clubs not playing in the McGilton Shield with everyone playing each other once.

The shield was won by Boolarra with their rink of Joel Anderson together with Colin Brick, Jorma Takanen and Terry Parker defeating the Warragul rink of David Gatewood together with Des Stephens, Pat Hammond and Terry Moyle by one shot.

The score was 12-11, with each of these clubs winning their other games, it meant Boolarra were the winners of the Barry Shield with Thorpdale and Yinnar in third and fourth places.

Whilst the day was rather windy with rain threatening, it was a good start to the season with Pennant seasons beginning yesterday (October 13) and weekend this Saturday (October 18).